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Bitcoin Faces Key Weekly Test at $68.4K as ETF Redemptions Hit $2.8B

David Pokima

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David Pokima

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Jun 2023

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David is a finance journalist and a contributor to Cryptonews.com with a keen interest in breaking comprehensive, accurate, and reliable blockchain news.

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Bitcoin (BTC) traded at $75,980 as U.S. desks opened on Feb. 4, 2026, with traders anchoring downside risk to the 200-week EMA near $68,400 after four straight red monthly candles.

Nic Puckrin, CEO of Coin Bureau, framed the immediate trigger as $74,400 (the “April lows” referenced in his X post), then $70,000 as the next shelf “just above” the $69,000 prior ATH, before a deeper capitulation pocket at $55,700 to $58,200 that he tied to the average realized price band plus the 200-week MA.

Where is the Bitcoin Bottom?

Ever since breaking the 50w MA bull trend in November, Bitcoin's momentum has been to the downside.

2 weeks ago, we also broke through the 100w MA.

Last week we broke through the ETF cost basis & the true market mean.

We're currently trading… pic.twitter.com/T2vo4hTedF

— Nic (@nicrypto) February 4, 2026 “Breaking below that means we head to a bear market low target. The area to watch here $55.7k – $58.2k. That’s just between the average realised price of all coins & the 200w MA. That should be the bottom.”

Altcoin Sherpa posted the same macro magnet, calling a tag of the 200-week EMA “around 68k” “logical,” and timestamped the view on Feb. 4, 2026.

BitBull added a cycle template: when BTC loses the 100-week EMA, the price historically retests the 200-week EMA, and he put the retest marker at $68,000 with an “accumulating” framework once it prints.

Every time Bitcoin has lost 100W EMA, it has retested the 200W EMA.

Right now, 200W EMA is at $68,000 and this will most likely be retested.

Once the retest happens, you could start accumulating for the long-term. pic.twitter.com/svAtSx7le2

— BitBull (@AkaBull_) February 4, 2026 ETF flow and positioning data suggest this pullback looks more like de-risking than a full-scale institutional exit. Over the past two weeks, the 11 U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen nearly $2.8 billion in net redemptions ($1.49B last week and $1.32B the week before), even as the group still holds around $100.38 billion in net assets, down from above $125 billion in mid-January.

BTC also briefly dipped to about $74,600, but has largely held the mid-$70Ks, keeping it just above a level many traders watch for forced deleveraging.

The Institutional TakeThe 200-week band functions as a risk committee line because it compresses a four-year regime filter into a single weekly close.

If BTC trades at $75,000 but the market starts pricing a $68.4K tag, desks typically shift from “buy dips” to “sell rips” until the weekly candle either reclaims the 100-week structure or prints a clean test-and-hold at the 200-week zone, which is where systematic vol sellers and long-only allocators usually re-enter with size rather than clip bids in the mid-range.

Fresh rumours around XRP have turned heads on social media after old emails from 2014 resurfaced, triggering claims that powerful figures wanted Ripple and XRP “gone” long before the U.S. regulatory crackdown. The latest debate has prompted a detailed response from XRP-supporting attorney Bill Morgan, who issued a warning  in drawing sweeping conclusions.

What the 2014 Email Actually ShowsAccording to Morgan, the email at the centre of the controversy does suggest that Jeffrey Epstein expressed an interest in harming Ripple and, by extension, XRP and the XRP Ledger in 2014. However, Morgan stressed that the document reflects intent or discussion — not proof of coordinated action.

“The email implicates Epstein in a desire to harm Ripple,” Morgan explained, “but it does not show a sustained or successful campaign carried out over time.”

The Timeline ProblemMorgan highlighted a key issue often missing from online theories: timing. He noted that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s investigation into Ripple did not begin until between April and June 2018, nearly four years after the email in question.

That period also coincides with former SEC official Bill Hinman’s widely debated speech that signalled Ethereum was not considered a security. Morgan said the gap between 2014 and 2018 is critical and largely unexplained.

Where Gensler Fits — And Where He Doesn’tAdditional emails released publicly show interest from the same circle in Gary Gensler in early May 2018, referencing his political connections and links to what Morgan described as an anti-crypto faction within U.S. Democratic circles.

However, Morgan pushed back against claims that Gensler was involved earlier through MIT. While Gensler joined MIT in 2018, Morgan said there is no evidence tying him to MIT Media Lab activities or its former director Joi Ito during the 2014–2018 period.

The Missing Link“What’s missing,” Morgan said, “is a documented chain of involvement connecting these events over four years.” Aside from Joi Ito’s role at MIT Media Lab, Morgan noted there is no paper trail showing coordination between Epstein, regulators, or exchanges leading up to the SEC case.

Separating Facts From AssumptionsMorgan’s comments come as XRP once again becomes the focus of online narratives during periods of market stress. He said that while historical documents can raise questions, conclusions must be based on verifiable evidence rather than coincidence.

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Solana (SOL) Unstaking Surges 150% — Rising Liquid Supply Opens Price Path to $65?SOL unstaking surged 150% as –449,000 SOL flipped to –1.15 million in two weeks.Exchange buying slowed 26% as net outflows fell from –2.25 million to –1.66 million SOL.Failure to reclaim $98 keeps Solana exposed to $65 breakdown risk.The Solana price remains under heavy pressure in early February, with the token down nearly 30% over the past 30 days and trading inside a weakening descending channel. Price continues to grind toward the lower boundary of this structure as long-term conviction fades.

At the same time, net staking activity has collapsed, exchange buying has slowed, and short-term traders are building positions again. Together, these signals suggest that more SOL is becoming available for potential selling just as technical support weakens.

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Staking Collapse Meets Descending Channel Breakdown RiskSolana’s latest weakness is being reinforced by a sharp drop in staking activity. The Solana staking difference metric tracks the weekly net change in SOL locked in native staking accounts. Positive values show new staking, while negative readings indicate net unstaking.

In late November, long-term conviction was strong. During the week ending November 24, staking accounts recorded net inflows of over 6.34 million SOL, marking a major accumulation phase.

That trend has now fully reversed. By mid-January, weekly staking flows had turned negative. The week ending January 19 showed net unstaking of around –449,819 SOL. By February 2, this had worsened to –1,155,788 SOL, a surge of roughly 150% in unstaking within two weeks.

Staking Collapses: DuneWant more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

This means a growing amount of SOL is being unlocked from staking and returned to liquid circulation. Once unstaked, these tokens can be moved to exchanges and sold immediately, increasing downside risk.

This collapse is happening as price trades near the lower edge of its descending channel with a 30% breakdown possibility in play.

Bearish SOL Price Structure: TradingViewSponsored

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With SOL hovering near $96, the combination of technical weakness and rising liquid supply creates a dangerous setup. If selling accelerates, the channel support may not hold.

Exchange Buying Slows as Speculators Increase ExposureFalling staking activity is now being reflected in exchange flows. Exchange Net Position Change tracks how much SOL moves onto or off exchanges over a rolling 30-day period. Negative values indicate net outflows and accumulation, while rising readings signal slowing demand.

On February 1, this metric stood near –2.25 million SOL, showing strong buying pressure. By February 3, it had weakened to around –1.66 million SOL. In just two days, exchange outflows dropped by nearly 26%, signaling that accumulation has slowed.

Exchange Outflow Slows Down: GlassnodeSponsored

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This decline in buying is occurring as unstaking accelerates, increasing the amount of SOL available for trading. When supply rises while demand weakens, the price becomes more vulnerable to sharp declines.

At the same time, speculative activity is rising.

HODL Waves data, which separates wallets based on holding time, shows that the one-day to one-week cohort increased its share from 3.51% to 5.06% between February 2 and February 3. This group represents short-term Solana holders who typically enter during volatility and exit quickly.

Speculative Cohort Buys: GlassnodeSimilar behavior appeared in late January. On January 27, this cohort held 5.26% of the supply when SOL traded near $127. By January 30, their share dropped to 4.31% as the price fell to $117, a decline of nearly 8%.

This pattern suggests that speculative money is positioning for short-term bounces rather than long-term holding, increasing the risk that bounces will fade.

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Key Solana Price Levels Still Point to $65 RiskTechnical structure continues to mirror the weakness seen in on-chain data. SOL remains locked inside a descending channel that has guided price lower since November. After losing the critical $98 support zone, the price is now trading near $96, close to the channel’s lower boundary.

If this support fails, the next major downside target lies near $67, based on Fibonacci projections. A deeper move could extend toward $65, aligning with the full measured 30% breakdown of the channel.

On the upside, recovery remains difficult. The first level that Solana must reclaim is $98, followed by stronger resistance near $117, which capped multiple rallies in January. A sustained move above $117 would be required to neutralize the bearish structure.

Solana Price Analysis: TradingViewUntil then, downside risks remain elevated.

With staking collapsing, exchange buying weakening, and speculative positioning rising, more SOL is entering circulation just as technical support weakens. Unless long-term accumulation returns, Solana remains vulnerable to a deeper correction toward $65.

Disclaimer

In line with the Trust Project guidelines, this price analysis article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. BeInCrypto is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.

Journalist

Posted: February 4, 2026

The market is swinging once again between fear and greed.

Looking at the technical side, the Fear and Greed Index kicked off February deep in the extreme fear zone, a level that historically aligns with capitulation phases, when HODLers start exiting positions to lock in losses.

In such a climate, it’s only natural for investors to be wary of Bitcoin [BTC] Digital Asset Treasuries (DATs). Michael Burry, for instance, has flagged risks of potential bankruptcy for firms holding BTC DATs, such as MSTR.

Source: X

Given the numbers, the cautious outlook seems justified. As AMBCrypto reported, MSTR’s unrealized losses have climbed to around $900 million as Bitcoin dropped below the company’s average cost basis.

Even so, Michael Saylor’s conviction remains rock solid. In a recent interview, he emphasized his commitment to acquiring 5% of BTC supply, framing the current “dip” as a clear opportunity to buy at discounted levels.

Naturally, this divergence has split market sentiment. Sceptics view the current volatility as a sign of fear around Bitcoin DATs, while supporters view Saylor’s 1 million BTC ambition as a strong confidence booster.

The question is: Which way is the hard data tilting?

MSTR’s resilience turns fear into FOMO Michael Burry, the “Big Short” investor known for predicting the 2008 financial crisis, naturally commands attention when he weighs in on BTC. Investors aren’t likely to shrug it off as just another “sell-the-news” event.

Still, analysts aren’t fully convinced. 

MSTR faces no near‑term debt obligations, with maturities scheduled between 2028 and 2030. Its total debt of $8.24 billion is well covered by Bitcoin holdings worth about $53.54 billion, offering a strong 6.5× coverage buffer.

Source: Strategy

Given this, analysts expect MSTR to weather the current FUD much like it did in the previous cycle. At that time, MSTR’s BTC cost was around $30k, yet BTC later dropped to $16k, more than 45% below their cost basis.

Despite the downturn, MSTR held onto its Bitcoin. In fact, this time, the company has even set aside a 2.5-year cash runway to cover interest and dividend payments, giving it added resilience against market volatility.

Against this setup, Saylor’s 1 million ambition doesn’t feel like a stretch. 

With a strong position, no BTC-backed debt, and proven resilience, MSTR backs its view of Bitcoin as a store of value. Hence, its ongoing purchases send a clear greed signal, keeping fear in check and FOMO alive.

Final Thoughts MSTR’s strong balance sheet and BTC holdings provide a 6.5× buffer, allowing it to weather market FUD. Saylor’s 1 million BTC plan and ongoing purchases act as a greed signal, keeping fear in check and FOMO alive for investors.

Ritika Gupta is a Financial Journalist and Geopolitical Analyst at AMBCrypto, specializing in the critical intersection of world politics, economic policy, and the cryptocurrency markets. Her analysis is informed by her distinguished background, which includes professional experience at major news network. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Psychology from Gargi College, University of Delhi. This academic training provides her with a sophisticated framework for dissecting complex issues such as international regulations, government fiscal policies, and the geopolitical forces that directly influence asset valuations. At AMBCrypto, Ritika applies this expert lens to synthesize macroeconomic data and political developments, offering readers a deeper context for market movements. She excels at explaining not just what is happening in the market, but why it is happening. Her work is dedicated to providing strategic insights that empower readers to understand the complex relationship between global events and their digital assets.

This support has already triggered massive rallies in the past. During the April to September 2025 cycle, SOL bounced from this same level and surged 166% to $250.

Now, after a sharp 25% drop from $127 to $100, SOL is showing signs of life right where bulls need it most.

If the price holds above $95 on the weekly close, this could be the start of a major recovery rally toward $300 and beyond.

SOL Price Analysis: Channel Breakout Next? SOL is currently rebounding from the lower boundary of a long-term descending channel.

Trader Tardigrade said that this type of rebound often pushes the price toward the upper channel boundary, which sits near $215.

$SOL/weekly#Solana is positioned at the bottom of a wide Descending Channel 👀 pic.twitter.com/YUbZlIZJIl

— Trader Tardigrade (@TATrader_Alan) February 2, 2026

If price repeats the prior cycle, a rally toward $215-$260 over the next few months remains realistic.

A $260 target implies a 150% gain from the $100 base, matching the scale of the last major recovery from this zone.

This could very well be the last dip before SOL rallies to newer highs and beyond toward $500 by the end of the year.

Source: TradingView

However, a weekly close below $95 breaks the structure and delays the bullish path. A retest of lower support zones at $80 is likely.

New SUBBD Presale Lets Users Crypto Using Artificial Intelligence Meme coins stall, attention fades, and liquidity looks for narratives that can scale beyond trading, AI infrastructure now stands tall.

SUBBD ($SUBBD) is attempting to tokenize the creator economy itself, a market already valued near $85 billion and still growing without crypto rails.

Offering an AI-powered content and subscription platform designed for creators who already monetize audiences, SUBBD brings better visibility for creators and incentives for fans.

Meanwhile, holding the token unlocks subscription discounts, premium content access, feature priority, and early product releases.

Already boasting over 2000+ top creators with $250 million+ followers, SUBBD has raised a massive $1.4 million in its ongoing presale.

Early buyers can capture up to 20% in staking rewards as well.

To buy $SUBBD at the presale price, head over to the official SUBBD website and connect a supported wallet (like Best Wallet).

Once done, use a debit/credit card or existing crypto to complete the buy in seconds.

Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.

Solana (SOL) News, Market News

A crypto journalist with over 5 years of experience in the industry, Parth has worked with major media outlets in the crypto and finance world, gathering experience and expertise in the space after surviving bear and bull markets over the years. Parth is also an author of 4 self-published books.

Parth Dubey on LinkedIn

TL;DR

Bitcoin spot ETFs saw about $272 million in net outflows while other ETFs showed selective inflows, indicating defensive institutional behavior. Ethereum and Solana ETF flows show modest but consistent interest, hinting at stability preferences in certain assets. XRP spot ETFs recorded notable net inflows, highlighting differentiated accumulation rather than broad market abandonment. Recent ETF flow data reveals that institutional investors are behaving in a more differentiated way beneath a broadly weak crypto market. While Bitcoin spot ETFs experienced net outflows of roughly $272 million on February 3, other digital assets saw tentative inflows, suggesting capital is being rotated selectively rather than pulled out wholesale. This divergence highlights a nuanced institutional stance, with funds moving toward assets perceived as having clearer regulatory or yield advantages even as overall market sentiment remains cautious.

Interpreting Institutional ETF Flows Amid Market Fragility Bitcoin’s outflows reflect continued defensive positioning by institutions. Data shows that after a brief positive session on February 2, Bitcoin ETFs on the third of the month were in negative territory, extending January’s predominance of redemptions. Heavy withdrawals led by major Bitcoin products indicate that many institutional holders remain cautious, possibly due to weak momentum and macro uncertainty, leaving BTC lower on the priority list for fresh capital deployment.

Ethereum ETFs displayed marginal net inflows, indicating tentative stabilization. Products such as BlackRock’s ETHA and Grayscale’s ETHE recorded small positive flows, pointing to modest confidence in Ether relative to Bitcoin. Although these inflows are far below the peaks seen earlier in January, their presence suggests institutions are slightly more comfortable allocating capital to assets tied closely to decentralized finance and staking opportunities.

Solana ETFs continued to attract consistent, though modest, inflows. Solana products maintained positive flows on February 3, extending a pattern of small but steady institutional interest dating back into late January. While total volumes remain modest compared with Bitcoin and Ethereum, the consistency of Solana inflows could indicate growing comfort with exposure to high throughput, staking‑oriented ecosystems.

XRP stood out with notable net inflows amid sector caution. Spot XRP ETFs recorded a clear positive flow of about $19.46 million, led by several ETF products focused on the token. This marked one of the most prominent signs of institutional accumulation across digital asset ETFs, contrasting strongly with Bitcoin’s outflow bias and suggesting that some investors see value or regulatory clarity in alternative tokens.

Despite these differentiated flows, broader crypto conditions remain fragile. Indicators such as sentiment indexes point toward extreme fear, and technical momentum across major assets remains weak. Overall, ETF data suggests caution rather than panic, with institutional capital becoming more selective in its allocations rather than exiting the crypto market altogether.

Wed, 4/02/2026 - 15:12

A 277,731,894 DOGE transfer worth $29.4 million from an unidentified wallet to Robinhood reignited debate; is this exit liquidity before a dump or the trigger for Dogecoin's next breakout?

Cover image via intel.arkm.com No more than 15 hours ago, 277,731,894 Dogecoin (DOGE) worth over $29.48 million were transferred to one of the biggest U.S. brokerage platforms, Robinhood, as DOGE battles to stay above its multiweek support level of $0.106.

At first, the transfer appeared to originate from an unidentified "whale" wallet with no recent transaction history. Of course, the transaction was immediately flagged by Whale Alert due to its scale and destination — Robinhood, one of the largest DOGE custodians globally.

Source: ArkhamHowever, deeper blockchain analysis, through Arkham, revealed a more complex situation. Not only did the sender address (DGTDR) hold over 865 million DOGE prior to the transaction, but it also engaged in a series of mirrored transfers, including a 90.5 million DOGE move and multiple round trip transactions between itself and the wallet that received the $29 million. 

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This behavioral pattern, along with transaction cluster data, strongly suggests that both wallets are part of Robinhood’s internal infrastructure.

What's brewing for Dogecoin on Robinhood?Further supporting evidence includes a separate transaction logged 13 hours earlier showing 36.8 million DOGE valued at $38.95 million moving from the same source into Robinhood’s labeled cold wallet, all under the same cluster.

While these movements now appear to be internal, they still have real market impact. Large transfers between custodial wallets often precede system-wide rebalancing or front-running expected user flows, both of which can trigger turbulence on the Dogecoin price chart.

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With Elon Musk reentering the DOGE narrative and speculation heating up, observers are treating every major on-chain movement as a signal. Shifting 277 million DOGE to a high-velocity trading venue like Robinhood sends a message: someone’s preparing for action.

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Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

The earlier Cardano sell-off is not forever, as the current rebound has helped it recover in the market rankings. Data from CoinMarketCap shows that Cardano is now worth $10.6 billion, slightly edging out Bitcoin Cash, with a market valuation of $10.5 billion.

Cardano and market ranking riskAs reported earlier by U.Today, Cardano was dethroned by Hyperliquid (HYPE) from the 10th spot earlier this week as the broader crypto market faced an intense sell-off.

With altcoin volatility unpredictable, Hyperliquid has reverted all of its gains, and as a result, it gave up its spot in the ranking. Bitcoin Cash stepped up in a shocking move and now occupies 11th place among the biggest coins on the market.

Cardano has been on the radar in recent times, with Founder Charles Hoskinson focusing on innovation rather than price setup. In earlier updates, Hoskinson revealed plans for the Logan AI Agent update, a plan that might require input from market participants.

At the time of writing, the price of Cardano was changing hands for $0.2937, down by 1.67% in the past 24 hours. The top altcoin is one of the biggest losers thus far this year, with a year-to-date (YTD) loss of 17%.

The threat to Cardano of leaving the top 10 crypto permanently remains a major one on the market. Like other altcoins, including Toncoin and Shiba Inu, which have left the top 20 ranks, permanent placement is dependent on sustained innovation and broad adoption.

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Is Cardano price undervalued?Cardano is often pitched alongside XRP and Ethereum in terms of its technological capabilities. It is regarded as one of the most decentralized protocols following the Chang hardfork implementation over a year ago.

Despite its current positive boost, Cardano is significantly lower in price and market capitalization compared to ETH, XRP and SOL. However, proponents believe ADA has very positive long-term prospects, a push recognized by its community.

With limited whale interest in recent times, proponents are watching out for crucial network metrics like volume, open interest and ETF expectations. Cardano ETF products in particular may help usher in institutional investors, which may in turn help fuel future price growth.

This integration allows cross-margining of decentralized finance derivatives alongside traditional assets, enhancing centralized risk management. Feb 4, 2026, 3:27 p.m.

Ripple has announced that its institutional prime brokerage platform, Ripple Prime, now supports the decentralized derivatives trading protocol Hyperliquid.

The integration gives Ripple Prime clients access to Hyperliquid’s onchain perpetuals liquidity while keeping margin and risk managed inside Ripple Prime. The company said clients will be able to cross-margin decentralized finance derivatives exposures, alongside positions in other markets the platform supports.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Ripple Prime currently supports traditional assets that include FX, fixed income, over-the-counter swaps, and more. The platform acts as a single point of access for institutions managing multi-asset portfolios, offering centralized risk management and capital efficiency, Ripple said.

The integration builds on growing interoperability in the space. Earlier this year Flare, a blockchain focused on interoperability, launched the first XRP spot market on Hyperliquid with the listing of FXRP. Ripple’s announcement focuses on derivatives access through Ripple Prime rather than retail spot trading.

Hyperliquid has drawn attention over its rapid growth to become the largest perpetual contracts decentralized exchange. As of mid-January, it had surpassed $5 billion in open interest and $200 billion in monthly trading volume, outpacing several rival exchanges.

Its recent surge in tokenized commodity trades, including silver futures, has attracted interest in the space and helped its HYPE token outperform during the ongoing selloff. The platform is also eyeing prediction markets.

Ripple launched its Prime platform in late 2025 following its $1.25 billion acquisition of prime brokerage firm Hidden Road.

AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.

Bitcoin has long served a simple purpose: storing and transferring value. The blockchain’s inherent limitations in scalability and programmability prevented use cases like high-frequency payments and smart contracts.

Launched in 2018, the layer-2 solution Lightning Network introduced noticeable improvements in scalability. It takes some of the burden offchain by creating side channels between the sender and receiver.

The model settles transactions faster, with lower fees. Rendering Bitcoin feasible for daily use, the solution spurred the development of many payment apps on the blockchain.

Programmability also arrived in Bitcoin through secondary protocols, such as RGB, an open-source solution designed to expand Bitcoin’s capabilities. The protocol enables the creation of smart contracts and other digital assets on Bitcoin through private, offchain transactions.

RGB powers decentralized applications (DApps) and tokenization, and allows digital assets other than Bitcoin (BTC) to exist on top of the original blockchain.

Bitcoin-native USDT transactionsCTDG Dev Hub, a collaborative platform for blockchain developers working on protocol ideas, has added Utexo as a new participant. The project examines how stablecoin transfers could be represented natively on Bitcoin by combining the Lightning Network’s payment channels with RGB’s client-side asset model. By focusing on interoperability between Bitcoin’s scaling and asset layers, Utexo aligns with DevHub’s goal of supporting experimental infrastructure research and practical developer-driven use cases.

Before the introduction of native solutions, the prevailing practice for using USDT on Bitcoin was utilizing methods like wrapping and bridging, which add intermediaries to the process and increase security risks.

Utexo moves USDT on Bitcoin-native rails instead by combining Lightning’s payment flow with RGB’s asset transfer model. Through RGB, USDT is issued and transferred under a client-side validation model, which keeps most of the transaction details off Bitcoin’s base layer.

Meanwhile, the Lightning Network enables fast and low-cost execution. Bitcoin’s layer-1 only serves as the security anchor that ultimately settles transactions and prevents double-spending.

That combination is meant to avoid the extra trust assumptions that come with wrapping and bridging while still keeping the experience fast. In other words, speed comes from Lightning, asset logic comes from RGB and the security stays tied to Bitcoin.

In Utexo’s design, separating execution from base-layer congestion can make cost behavior less sensitive to Bitcoin’s mempool conditions, since most activity occurs off-chain and Bitcoin is used only for final settlement. This structural decoupling is one reason some implementations aim for more stable cost behavior as throughput grows.

Utilizing the Lightning Network or RGB normally requires a good amount of manual labor. Users have to set up and run a Lightning node, open and manage channels, ensure liquidity, handle routing failures and monitor payment status.

On the RGB side, they also need to manage issuance and transfers, exchange the data needed for client-side validation and keep track of state so balances remain accurate.

The project brings these steps into a single integration flow available via an SDK and REST API. It exposes programmatic access to Lightning execution, routing and failure handling, as well as RGB asset issuance, transfers and state transitions, enabling interaction with both layers through one interface.

Bitcoin developers gain a hubCointelegraph has been taking an active role in blockchain governance and development through its initiative, Cointelegraph Decentralization Guardians.

As part of the CTDG ecosystem, CTDG Dev Hub serves as a developer-focused hub alongside CTDG’s validator operations and educational initiatives. The hub offers an open, global public space for developers and other members of the blockchain community to exchange ideas, develop solutions, and submit proposals.

Through its participation in CTDG Dev Hub, Utexo becomes part of a shared development environment where its approach can be reviewed and discussed by other contributors. The Dev Hub serves as a coordination point for developers and community members exploring infrastructure and tooling for Bitcoin-based applications.

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy

BTC’s pullback to $73K has one veteran analyst focused on a warning sign rather than the price: a bold remark from Saylor.

Market Sentiment:

Bullish Bearish Neutral

Published: February 4, 2026 │ 3:24 PM GMT

Created by Kornelija Poderskytė from DailyCoin

The host of a long-running crypto market channel says something “we should all be a little bit afraid of” just hit the market – and it’s not Bitcoin’s slide back below $73,000. In a new video, the analyst focuses instead on a high‑profile comment from the largest known Bitcoin whale, while doubling down on his own strategy of aggressively buying into the current draw-down.

The analyst zeroes in on a fresh remark from MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor, who he calls “the biggest bitcoin whale in existence.” Saylor’s line – “volatility is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful” – might sound bullish, but the host argues it has become an accidental warning signal.

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“Every single time thus far that he said it, the market moved down pretty quickly afterward” the analyst says, describing Saylor as “a pretty big top indicator,” with only one recent exception.

Dusty floats a theory circulating in crypto circles: that Saylor may currently be close to, or briefly under, his average cost basis and could be timing smaller buys while waiting for what he sees as a clearer bottom before announcing larger purchases.

Despite the concern, the analyst agrees with Saylor’s core message on volatility – especially for those running automated strategies. He cites his own use of exchange-based algorithmic trading bots that tend to profit more as price swings widen.

Bitcoin’s Deep Inside The $71K Pocket as Gold Rips & Stocks SlideOn price action, Dusty BC reiterates a long-stated “buy zone” for Bitcoin, describing anything near $72,000 as “cheap, cheap, cheap territory” and calling the recent dip into the low $70,000s “basically as far as I think it’s going to go.”

At around $71,000, he says he is already “deep” in positions and prepared to “start praying” if the market pushes significantly lower.

He contrasts Bitcoin’s muted response with a sudden surge in gold, which he says is “up above $5,000 again, up 20% in 48 hours,” while major equity indices like the Nasdaq 100 are dropping as AI stocks sell off.

In Dusty’s view, crypto is suffering from a frustrating pattern: tracking stocks on down days and behaving inversely to both equities and gold when they rise. “Every single day our coins just keep going down,” Dusty notes.

Macro tensions and a recent partial U.S. government shutdown briefly enter the picture as well, though the analyst stresses he prefers not to dwell on geopolitics. In Dusty’s opinion, these risks only reinforce the original case for Bitcoin as a government‑resistant asset, a modern alternative to gold and silver.

Dusty highlights recent clips of Donald Trump describing himself as “a big crypto person” and arguing that if the U.S. doesn’t embrace crypto, “then China’s going to do it.”

The analyst interprets Washington’s growing engagement with digital assets as a “golden sticker” that, in his opinion, reduces the probability of crypto going to zero and will eventually force rival nations to “play catch up.”

For crypto investors, the message is blunt: short‑term price action looks weak, correlations are messy, and a key whale’s comments make traders uneasy.

But for those who agree with the analyst’s long view – that Bitcoin is still on a path to “hundreds of thousands and millions” per coin – current levels are seen as a rare discount, with strategy and risk tolerance more important than ever.

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People Also Ask:Does the analyst think this is the final bottom?

No. He calls $72,000 his expected “lowest” zone but admits Bitcoin could break lower and says his view is not financial advice.

Why is Michael Saylor’s comment seen as worrying?

The analyst notes that past instances of Saylor praising volatility were often followed by price drops, leading traders to treat it as a potential top signal.

How does gold’s move factor into his thesis?

He sees gold’s sharp rally alongside equity weakness as evidence of rising global uncertainty, which in theory should also strengthen Bitcoin’s long‑term use case.

What role does Trump’s stance on crypto play here?

The analyst views Trump’s pro‑crypto comments and broader U.S. engagement as a sign that major powers won’t let the sector vanish, increasing pressure on other countries to eventually join in.

DailyCoin's Vibe Check: Which way are you leaning towards after reading this article?

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This article is for information purposes only and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein shall be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading forex, cryptocurrencies, and CFDs pose a considerable risk of loss.

Hyperliquid has broken ranks with the broader digital asset market, posting a massive double-digit rally while Bitcoin and other major altcoins like XRP suffer from the bear market.

According to CryptoSlate's data, Hyperliquid's HYPE is one of the crypto market's top performers over the past two weeks, jumping roughly 71% to a high of $35, its highest price since last December.

This price performance reflects crypto traders’ positive sentiment about the protocol's potential to expand product offerings.

Notably, the price action stands in sharp contrast to the ugly tape elsewhere. Over the past weeks, a sharp risk-off wave has hit corners of the market, and the damage hasn’t been isolated to digital assets.

The same macro tremors that knocked crypto lower also jolted precious metals and other risk trades, wiping around $6 trillion over the first few weeks of 2026.

And yet in the middle of that giant market-wide red screen, HYPE is acting like a different animal, with US investors driving its uptrend.

HYPE Cumulative Returns by Sessions (Source: Velo)The simplest explanation that capital is just rotating into a strong chart misses what makes this move structurally interesting.

Essentially, HYPE is increasingly trading less like a generic altcoin and more like an exchange-linked asset whose demand can rise because markets get messy. In a risk-off regime, most tokens are punished for being “risk.”

However, venues that monetize volatility can see fundamentals improve when everyone else’s fundamentals degrade.

Hyperliquid's volatility revenueHyperliquid’s core product is perpetual futures. When volatility spikes, perpetual volume typically rises as traders hedge, speculate, rotate across assets, and are liquidated more frequently.

That activity throws off fees, and Hyperliquid’s design links those fees back to token demand in a direct, mechanical loop.

On DefiLlama, Hyperliquid Perps shows a 30-day perp volume of $216.286 billion and a 24-hour perp volume of $11.778 billion.

Chart Showing Hyperliquid Perps DEX Volume (Source: DeFiLlama)This activity is accompanied by 30-day revenue of $68.42 million and annualized revenue of $834.7 million. At the same time, open interest on the platform currently exceeds $6 billion.

These numbers matter because of the “what happens next” step. DefiLlama’s methodology notes that 99% of fees go to an Assistance Fund for buying HYPE tokens, excluding builder fees.

In other words, more trading activity can translate into more buy pressure for the token, which is built into the plumbing rather than dependent on sentiment.

That is the core reason HYPE can appear to be the “sole winner” during broad drawdowns. If fear increases turnover, the protocol’s cashflow loop can strengthen even while the rest of the market deleverages.

For context, data from ASXN show that the daily HYPE buyback rate climbed to nearly $4 million earlier this month, the highest level since last November. When expanded to the past month, the rate exceeded $55 million.

Chart Showing Hyperliquid HYPE Buybacks (Source: ASXN)Two takeaways fall out of that set of numbers.

First, buyback intensity has accelerated recently. The 30-day figure implies an average of approximately $1.86 million per day, whereas the 7-day figure implies $2.85 million per day, consistent with a market that has become more active and more volatile.

Second, the buybacks have been executed at progressively higher average prices over shorter windows ($25.81 over 30 days versus $31.36 over the past 24 hours), which fits the broader point that HYPE demand is tightening as activity rises.

Hyperliquid is widening the volatility surface areaHyperliquid’s significant price gains also have strong product catalysts that are easy to overlook if you only track price.

The protocol is effectively widening the “volatility surface area” it can capture by moving beyond standard crypto assets into Real World Assets (RWAs) and permissionless markets, a strategy unlocked by its recent HIP-3 upgrade.

HIP-3 made Hyperliquid more permissionless on listings, allowing the protocol to support builder-deployed perpetual markets. These deployers must maintain 500,000 staked HYPE and are subject to slashing via a validator vote in the event of malicious operation.

That stake requirement serves as a direct token sink and imposes a “cost of entry” for builders seeking to rapidly list markets.

This infrastructure enabled the platform's rapid expansion into commodities. Milk Road, a crypto commentary platform, noted that this trend deserves way more attention than it is getting.

The firm attributed HYPE's rally to this integration of RWAs, noting that Hyperliquid has captured 2% of the world's primary silver market despite listing the metal roughly 30 days ago.

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Milk Road described this volume as “INSANE,” emphasizing that silver trading volume indicates that the HYPE token can thrive rather than merely survive the market downturn.

Data from Flowscan show that cumulative open interest across HIP-3 DEXs has exceeded $28 billion.

Hyperliquid's HIP-3 DEXs Open Interest (Source: Flowscan)New competitor against Polymarket?Meanwhile, the newest narrative tailwind is HIP-4, which introduces outcome-style, event-based markets.

Hyperliquid stated that HIP-4 will introduce fully collateralized contracts that settle within fixed ranges. These are positioned as prediction-market-like instruments and limited-risk, options-style structures designed to avoid margin calls and liquidation cascades.

According to the firm:

“Outcomes bring non-linearity, dated contracts, and an alternative form of derivative trading that does not involve leverage or liquidations. The outcome primitive expands the expressivity of HyperCore, while composing with other primitives such as portfolio margin and the HyperEVM.”

Data from Santiment indicates that the crowd appears to be hyped about Hyperliquid rolling out HIP-4. The firm noted that recent price action suggests that community expectations regarding new derivatives and prediction markets could attract additional volume.

Chart Showing Hyperliquid's Social Sentiment (Source: Santiment)Notably, discussions of HIP-4 have also included comparisons with existing prediction platforms.

DeFi analyst Ignas said Hyperliquid's HIP-4 is notable because if outcomes compose with perps, a trader can long ETH and buy an ‘ETH below $2,000' outcome as a hedge, causing their margin to drop because the positions offset each other.

According to him, competitors such as Polymarket and Kalshi cannot do this.

Additionally, he noted that Hyperliquid's permissionless deployment could confer advantages, as the platform allows anyone to create markets, whereas upcoming rivals such as Polymarket do not support this feature.

HYPE faces an impending headwindDespite the bullish structural arguments, HYPE faces a significant test this week.

Data from Tokenomist indicates that the next Hyperliquid unlock is scheduled for Feb. 6 and will release 9.92 million HYPE to core contributors, which is approximately $335 million at recent prices.

Hyperliquid's HYPE Recent Token Unlocks (Source: Tokenomist)This is where the “mechanical bid” narrative meets real market structure. If Hyperliquid Perps generates roughly $68.42 million in 30-day revenue, the unlock’s notional value is approximately 4.9 times the monthly run rate.

That doesn’t mean the buyback loop cannot handle it. It means the path matters. If unlocked holders sell aggressively and quickly, the market can gap down even with steady buybacks, especially if broader risk appetite remains weak.

However, if selling is staggered or volatility keeps volumes elevated, buybacks can act as a stabilizer, turning “unlock fear” into a buy-the-dip setup for traders.

But if the broader market volatility collapses as the macroeconomic backdrop calms and traders step away, the buyback yield declines, and HYPE starts trading more like a standard risk asset again.

Mentioned in this articlePosted in

Cardano (ADA) has reclaimed its spot among the top ten largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.

Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

Bulls are not strong enough to seize the initiative as the prices of most of the coins keep trading in the red zone, according to CoinStats.

XRP chart by CoinStatsXRP/USDThe rate of XRP has declined by 2.24% over the last day.

Image by TradingViewOn the hourly chart, the price of XRP has made a false breakout of the local support at $1.5428. If the daily bar closes far from that mark, traders can expect an ongoing upward move to the $1.60 range.

Image by TradingViewOn the longer time frame, the rate of XRP has not bounced back after a false breakout of the $1.5307 level. If the candle closes near that mark or below it, the accumulated energy might be enough for a further drop to the $1.50 zone.

Image by TradingViewFrom the midterm point of view, there are no reversal signals yet.

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If the weekly bar closes below the interim level of $1.50, traders may witness a test of the $1.30-$1.40 area by the end of the month.

XRP is trading at $1.55 at press time.

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Posted: February 4, 2026

Bitcoin’s [BTC] price action continues to reflect sustained weakness. Late Tuesday, the asset fell to a session low of $72,945 as selling pressure intensified across the market.

The move followed a clear shift in trader behavior. Whales scaled back their bullish bets, while retail traders largely held their ground, maintaining elevated optimism.

AMBCrypto assesses which side may be better positioned and outlines the conditions that could shape a potential Bitcoin reset.

Whales pull back as retail presses on Recent data points to a changing dynamic in Bitcoin’s Perpetual Futures market, highlighting a widening gap between whale and retail trader behavior.

Whales—typically addresses with deep liquidity—tend to trade with greater flexibility than retail participants, who often rely on shorter time frames and more limited capital.

According to Whales vs. Retail data, whales reduced their long exposure over the past day, closing existing positions while opening new shorts.

Source: CryptoQuant

João Wedson, founder of Alphractal, described the shift as part of whales’ opportunistic trading approach.

“They hunt volatility, open longs and shorts aggressively, and later reduce exposure,” Wedson said.

Such repositioning often precedes one of two outcomes.

Bitcoin may enter a consolidation phase before committing to a clearer direction, or selling pressure could accelerate, dragging prices below the lower $70,000 range—similar to Tuesday’s move.

Historically, comparable whale-driven unwinds have preceded sharp declines. In a previous instance, Bitcoin experienced a steep drop that ultimately carried the price toward the $80,000 region at the time.

For now, however, derivatives data suggests longs still retain marginal control.

Bitcoin’s Funding Rate—used to determine whether long or short traders are paying to hold positions—remains slightly positive at roughly 0.0040%, according to CoinGlass.

Bearish pressure remains intact Despite the positive Funding Rate, bearish forces remain active. A renewed push from sellers could set the stage for a bull trap, exposing late long positions to abrupt reversals.

Trading volume trends in Bitcoin’s perpetual market show a growing dominance of short volume over longs.

This shift indicates that cumulative activity continues to favor short contracts, with taker sell orders maintaining a strong presence.

Beyond derivatives, spot market indicators paint a less supportive picture.

The Coinbase Premium Index—which compares Bitcoin prices on Coinbase and Binance to gauge U.S.-based demand—signals a clear deterioration in buying interest.

Source: CryptoQuant

The index has trended lower over the past day, pointing to weakening demand from U.S. investors, even as long exposure in derivatives markets improves.

A similar signal emerges from the Fund Market Premium, which tracks the price difference between crypto investment products such as ETFs, trusts, and funds relative to spot Bitcoin.

The metric has slipped into negative territory, printing around -0.2. This suggests subdued institutional demand and reinforces the broader risk-off tone across the market.

Collapsing volume weighs on the outlook Across the wider market, spot trading activity has declined sharply. Data indicates that hundreds of billions of dollars in volume have exited the market since October 2025, reflecting sustained caution among participants.

Demand that might otherwise support price stability has faded, as fewer spot investors remain active and available capital continues to thin.

The recent $10 billion contraction in stablecoin market capitalization has further deepened this demand shortfall.

Reduced stablecoin liquidity signals investor reluctance to deploy capital into digital assets. Given Bitcoin’s tendency to absorb returning liquidity first, this contraction could significantly influence its near-term price behavior.

Until spot demand and trading volume recover meaningfully, Bitcoin may struggle to deliver sustained gains capable of supporting a stronger upside trajectory.

Final Thoughts Whales are cutting back long exposure at a time when retail participation continues to rise, a divergence that could have material consequences for price direction. Retail investor positioning remains notably optimistic, even as broader market indicators point to declining U.S. participation and a pullback in overall trading volume.

Bitcoin traders predicted that 200-week moving average trendlines would produce a long-term BTC price bottom in the event of another dip.

Bitcoin (BTC) traders see its ultimate support trendline coming into play as part of a new macro BTC price bottom.

Key points:

Bitcoin is nearing a long-term trendline retest for the first time since late 2023.

Weekly moving averages are on the radar as a BTC price safety net should the market fall again.

Market outlooks place emphasis on trader resilience despite a 40% drawdown.

BTC 200-week trend line “should be the bottom”The latest analysis increasingly expects Bitcoin to test its 200-week exponential moving average (EMA) at $68,400.

After four straight red monthly candles, BTC price is fielding fresh downside targets, which include sub-$50,000 levels.

Despite dropping to its lowest levels since late 2024 this week, BTC/USD may be rescued by classic support trend lines in the end.

“We're currently trading at Strategy's cost basis & are close [to] the April lows at $74.4k. If we break below, the next key level is $70k which is just above the previous ATH of $69k,” Nic Puckrin, CEO of crypto education resource Coin Bureau, wrote in an X post Wednesday.

“Breaking below that means we head to a bear market low target. The area to watch here $55.7k - $58.2k. That's just between the average realised price of all coins & the 200w MA. That should be the bottom.” BTC/USD one-week chart with 50, 100, 200SMA. Source: Nic Puckrin/X
Puckrin referenced the 200-week simple moving average (SMA), which forms a $10,000-wide support band with the EMA equivalent, data from TradingView shows.

BTC/USD one-week chart with 200SMA, 200EMA. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView
Trader Altcoin Sherpa, meanwhile, said that it would “make sense” for the price to drop to at least the 200-week EMA.

on 1 hand it makes sense for $BTC to tap the 200W EMA, an indicator that hasn't been touched since 2023. This would be around 68k.

On the other, this is still an interesting level as the 2025 low.

Either way, the bottom is closer than we think imo pic.twitter.com/93DO4s4qlu

— Altcoin Sherpa (@AltcoinSherpa) February 4, 2026 “Every time Bitcoin has lost 100W EMA, it has retested the 200W EMA,” trader BitBull continued on the topic. 

“Right now, 200W EMA is at $68,000 and this will most likely be retested. Once the retest happens, you could start accumulating for the long-term.” BTC/USD one-week chart with 100, 200EMA. Source: BitBull/X
Bitcoin investors resist full capitulationOther market synopses are also offering hope to panicking BTC investors.

Fresh analysis released Tuesday by Matt Hougan, chief investment officer of crypto asset manager Bitwise, predicted that the current “crypto winter” would soon be over.

“Retail crypto has been in a brutal winter since January 2025. Institutions just papered over that truth for certain assets for a while,” he argued, noting that the average “winter” lasted around 14 months.

Cointelegraph further reported on strong conviction among Bitcoin derivatives traders after enduring a drawdown of more than 40%.

The US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have seen net outflows of $3.2 billion since mid-January — just 3% of their total assets under management.

Bitcoin US spot ETF balances. Source: GlassnodeThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.

Uniswap (UNI) was also among the underperformers, declining 3.6% from Tuesday.

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Quick Facts:

➡️ Aave has retired the Avara brand and shuttered the Family Wallet to refocus on its core lending protocol and Lens ecosystem. ➡️ The market trend is shifting away from generalist “super-apps” toward specialized platforms that solve specific industry pain points. ➡️ SUBBD Token is capitalizing on this shift by using AI and Web3 to disrupt the high-fee structures of the $85B creator economy. ➡️ Early data shows strong demand for SUBBD’s model, with over $4.5 million raised during its presale phase. The ‘crypto super-app’ dream took a hit this week. Aave, one of decentralized finance’s largest lending protocols, announced a strategic retreat from its consumer-facing wallet ambitions.

Stani Kulechov, Aave’s founder, confirmed the organization is retiring the ‘Avara’ parent brand and shutting down the Family Wallet, a product acquired just last year to bridge the gap between DeFi and everyday users.

It’s a sharp pivot back to basics. For the past two years, the narrative was all about expansion—building social graphs (Lens Protocol), stablecoins (GHO), and wallets under one massive umbrella. But that era appears over.

The reversal suggests the market frankly no longer rewards broad, open-ended ecosystems that lack immediate stickiness. Instead, liquidity is flowing toward purpose-built protocols that solve specific, high-friction problems rather than general utility.

This restructuring comes as the broader crypto market hunts for the next major narrative beyond simple asset speculation. While infrastructure giants like Aave consolidate to defend their moats, capital is rotating into sectors offering tangible utility for non-crypto natives.

Specifically, the intersection of AI and the creator economy is seeing aggressive growth. It’s within this vacuum of consumer utility that projects like SUBBD Token ($SUBBD) are finding traction, using the exact kind of specialized focus that the ‘Family’ wallet missed.

Buy your $SUBBD here.

AI Tools Replace Generic Interfaces The failure of the Family Wallet highlights a brutal truth in crypto: users don’t need another place to store private keys; they need a reason to use them.

While Aave retreats to infrastructure, SUBBD Token ($SUBBD) is capitalizing on the $85 billion content creation industry by attacking the inefficiencies of Web2 incumbents. The current landscape for creators is defined by exploitation, platforms routinely extract up to 70% of earnings in fees, while arbitrary bans restrict audience reach.

SUBBD addresses this not by building a generic wallet, but by deploying an EVM-compatible ecosystem designed specifically for creator sovereignty. By merging Web3 payments with proprietary AI models, the platform offers tools that were previously fragmented across a dozen subscriptions.

Features like the AI Personal Assistant allow creators to automate interactions, while AI Voice Cloning and AI Influencer Creation open new revenue streams that don’t require the creator to be physically present 24/7.

This utility-first approach differs fundamentally from the strategy Aave just abandoned. Where Avara attempted to capture users through a generalist interface, SUBBD captures them through essential service provision. The platform’s decentralized architecture ensures creators maintain ownership of their content and earnings, removing the middleman risk that plagues platforms like OnlyFans or Patreon.

For the market, this represents a shift from ‘crypto as a wallet’ to ‘crypto as a business backend.’

Check out the SUBBD ecosystem.

SUBBD Presale Draws Capital Seeking Utility The market’s appetite for this specific utility is quantifiable. While legacy DeFi tokens struggle with governance restructuring, SUBBD Token has maintained steady inflows during its presale phase.

According to current data, the project has successfully raised $1.4M, signaling strong confidence from early adopters who view the convergence of AI and content monetization as the next logical step for retail crypto adoption.

Investors are currently entering at a price point of $0.05749, positioning themselves before the platform’s full public rollout. Beyond the speculative aspect, the protocol’s staking mechanics are designed to encourage long-term ecosystem stability.

The project offers a fixed 20% APY for the first year to participants who lock their tokens. This incentive structure does two things: it reduces circulating supply volatility during the critical early growth phase, and it aligns incentives between the platform’s developers and its community.

Smart money monitors these metrics closely because they suggest a departure from ‘vaporware.’ The token serves a dual purpose: governance rights over platform features, such as voting on AI creator curation, and utility within the ecosystem for tipping, subscriptions, and accessing token-gated content.

As Aave refocuses on the backend of DeFi, projects like SUBBD are building the front-end utility that actually drives mass adoption.

You can buy $SUBBD here.

The content provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry inherent risks, including high volatility and potential loss of capital. Always conduct your own due diligence before investing.

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

Despite the brief pause in the prolonged crypto market downturn seen early yesterday, Dogecoin (DOGE) has resumed its price correction, and this negative market condition has extended to its derivatives market.

As of Wednesday, Feb. 4, data from CoinGlass shows that the largest meme asset by market capitalization, Dogecoin, has seen its futures open interest decline by 8.7% over the past day.

Dogecoin futures traders withdraw their positionsThe massive decline in Dogecoin open interest shows that futures traders are increasingly withdrawing their positions amid the growing uncertainties seen across the broad crypto market.

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Nonetheless, the data further shows that the total number of active futures contracts involving Dogecoin that have not been settled has dropped significantly to 10.84 billion DOGE worth about $1.16 billion.

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With this massive decrease in the number of DOGE tokens committed over the last day coinciding with a massive increase of over 43% in its trading volume, it appears that Dogecoin traders are not entirely dormant, but they are actively repositioning in major attempts to close leveraged positions rather than open new ones.

Furthermore, the broad market sell-off has seen Dogecoin decline notably in its price, retesting its multimonth low of $0.10. As such, the declining open interest metric shows that Dogecoin traders are being cautious amid the heavy price pull back.

Dogecoin options open interest rises 6%While the Dogecoin overall open interest volume has plunged significantly amid prolonged crypto market volatility, its options open interest has moved in the opposite direction during the same period.

The data shows that options open interest has surged by nearly 6%; meanwhile, the options volume has plunged massively by 52.69%. This signals a mix of resilience and caution as it appears that traders across all exchanges, including Binance, may be holding firm to existing hedges but are reluctant to open new positions amid the looming uncertainties.

Pi Coin has remained on crypto investors’ radar since March 14, 2019 (Pi Day), drawing both support and criticism due to its unconventional mining setup and gradual mainnet launch. Now that the project is hitting another important stage, attention is ramping up again.

Table of Contents

Current market scenarioNetwork updates and supply dynamicsTechnical outlook and downside risksPotential recovery scenariosPi Coin price prediction based on current levelsFinal thoughts This Pi Coin price prediction reviews the latest developments and how they might shape price movement in the near term.

Summary

Pi Coin is trading around $0.16 as of February 4, down 9% for the week, with price largely stuck in a tight range due to short-term trading and long-term uncertainty. Recent updates have unblocked 2.5 million users in KYC and mainnet migration, while 700,000+ users can now submit KYC applications, adding supply pressure to the market. Pi Coin’s price is expected to stay in the $0.14–$0.18 range short-term, with significant upside dependent on real ecosystem growth rather than technical momentum. Current market scenario Pi Coin (PI) sits around $0.16 as of February 4, down 9% for the week and 1.3% in the last 24 hours.

PI 1-day chart, February 2026 | Source: crypto.news Pi Coin price has been stuck in a tight range, reflecting both short-term trading and longer-term uncertainty. Its moves seem more about what’s happening within the project than the wider crypto market.

Network updates and supply dynamics At the end of January, the Pi Network team finally addressed a big user pain point. Roughly 2.5 million users who were blocked during KYC or mainnet migration due to tighter compliance checks should now be able to move forward. Since the issues vary by region, fixes are being rolled out gradually.

The update also allows 700,000+ users to submit KYC applications for the first time. While this is a big step forward, migration will continue in batches, meaning progress may still feel slow.

Meanwhile, supply pressure is mounting. Millions of PI tokens are unlocking daily over the next month, including a 24 million token release on February 13, which continues to shape the broader Pi Coin forecast.

Technical outlook and downside risks PI is at a key $0.15–$0.16 level. A push from buyers could spark a bounce, especially with upcoming token unlocks. Clearing $0.18 might take price up to $0.20, but it’d probably be just a temporary lift rather than a trend change.

If $0.15 breaks, the price could fall to $0.145–$0.14, keeping bears in charge and fueling doubts about the project’s utility.

Potential recovery scenarios Even with ongoing pressure, incremental KYC and mainnet migration improvements could help confidence grow over time.

Successfully onboarding millions of users could set a foundation for future apps and token activity.

However, without noticeable growth in the ecosystem, any bounce in Pi Coin price will probably be fragile.

Pi Coin price prediction based on current levels Over the next little while, PI will probably stay trapped between $0.14 and $0.18, with bigger moves happening around unlock dates. To push past $0.20, the network would need more than bullish charts — it needs real growth in the ecosystem.

Final thoughts Looking at the Pi Coin outlook, things feel a bit stuck in neutral. Major problems have been addressed, but the growing supply and limited ecosystem activity are holding Pi Coin back. As a result, the Pi Coin price prediction remains cautious, with sideways action expected until fundamentals improve.

Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

Large Bitcoin (BTC) holders are up to something good amid the ongoing price dip. Despite Bitcoin’s 42% drop from its all-time high of $126,000, whales are increasing their accumulation of the coin. As highlighted by Bitfinex, a leading digital trading platform, the number of addresses with over 1,000 BTC has spiked.

Whale wallets expand despite Bitcoin’s market declineNotably, the Bitcoin large-holder asset chart indicates that the number of addresses holding over 1,000 BTC rose to 2,047. This signals that more wallets now hold at least 1,000 BTC each, worth millions of dollars per wallet.

It is a clear indication that these whales are buying the dip and holding more Bitcoin in their portfolio. This increased accumulation at a time when Bitcoin is nosediving suggests that BTC whales are anticipating a rebound in price.

These large investors, instead of dumping the asset, have decided to buy up whatever retail investors are selling. It is likely that if these whales continue to accumulate, Bitcoin could stop further declines on the crypto market.

BTC hit a new yearly low at $73,060 yesterday, representing a 42% drawdown from ATH.

Whale accumulation continues as the number of addresses holding +1,000 BTC rose to 2,047.

If this accumulation pattern persists we expect a new price range around current levels. pic.twitter.com/hROWPD9Og0

— Bitfinex (@bitfinex) February 4, 2026 Within the last 24 hours, Bitcoin crashed from a daily peak of $78,376.51 to an intraday low of $72,897.14. As of this writing, Bitcoin exchanges hands at $75,977.92, which represents a 2.64% decline within the time frame.

However, trading volume has climbed by 26.8% to $68.02 billion, indicating the ongoing accumulation. With weak hands exiting the market and whales mopping up after them, the current development could prove significant to the leading digital asset.

This $75,000 price range might serve as a new support base for future upward movement. It could also serve as a sell-off trigger during a market correction.

If the current whale accumulation succeeds in stabilizing prices, Bitcoin would need to reclaim the $85,500 level before it reignites confidence of further upside.

Michael Saylor's Bitcoin doctrine aligns with whale strategy You Might Also Like

Bitcoin is currently in a zone that contains most of the asset’s market liquidity. The coin’s ability to resist a massive sell-off in line with the current whale accumulation might prove pivotal to its recovery journey. Bitcoin might persist until the coin reclaims the $80,000 level.

Amid the volatility, Bitcoin advocate Michael Saylor has dropped two critical rules that should guide holders of the coin. According to Saylor, the first rule is to "buy Bitcoin," and the second is "don’t sell the Bitcoin."

These rules seem to align with the action of whales holding over 1,000 BTC as they steadily increase their accumulation of the asset. It would appear that a section of the market is listening to Saylor.

Crypto ETF flows diverged sharply as bitcoin products faced heavy redemptions, while ether, XRP, and solana managed to attract fresh capital. The split highlighted selective risk-taking as February's early momentum cooled.

SOL price is attempting to stabilize after a prolonged selloff, trading at $94.16 when writing, as short-term technical indicators begin to suggest seller exhaustion. A TD Sequential “9” buy signal on the 4-hour chart, combined with a bullish RSI divergence, has shifted focus toward whether current support can hold.

TD Sequential Buy Signal Flags Potential Selling ExhaustionFrom a technical perspective, the Solana price chart has printed a TD Sequential “9” buy signal on the 4-hour timeframe. This is signaling that downside momentum may be stretched. While it does not guarantee a reversal, historically it often precedes short-term stabilization phases.

Meanwhile, price action has respected the $93–$94 zone during recent sessions, suggesting that sellers may be losing control. Still, confirmation requires sustained holding above this area rather than a brief reaction.

Bullish RSI Divergence Reinforces Short-Term SupportAt the same time, momentum indicators are beginning to diverge from price. While SOL price briefly dipped to $93, the Relative Strength Index formed a higher low. This bullish RSI divergence implies weakening downside pressure even as price printed a marginally lower low.

Such divergences often emerge near inflection points, particularly after extended declines. That said, they tend to work best when paired with structural support levels, which currently places added significance on the $94 region for SOL price today.

Key Levels Define Near-Term Risk and RewardFrom a structural standpoint, $94.16 now acts as a critical support reference. If this level continues to hold on closing bases, attention shifts toward the monthly open near $105, which represents a potential recovery target of roughly 9.4% based on recent Solana price chart behavior.

Still, the path higher is unlikely to be linear. Any failure to defend current levels would delay this scenario and reintroduce lower liquidity zones. For now, the chart suggests that the immediate risk-reward profile has become more balanced than earlier in the decline.

On-Chain Activity Signals Underlying Network StrengthBeyond price, Solana crypto fundamentals present a more constructive backdrop. Development activity has been trending higher, while daily active addresses continue to rise, too. This combination suggests that network usage is expanding even as market sentiment remains cautious.

Historically, divergences between improving on-chain engagement and soft price action often precede trend transitions, although timing remains uncertain. Still, it reduces the likelihood of purely speculative price behavior dominating short-term moves.

Volume Cooling Adds Context to Momentum ShiftAdditionally, CryptoQuant data shows a noticeable cooling in trading volume. Rather than indicating disinterest, declining volume during downtrends often reflects the exhaustion of aggressive sellers. In prior cycles, similar volume compression has aligned with base-building phases.

As a result, SOL price is now balancing between technical exhaustion signals and broader market restraint. Whether this develops into a sustained recovery or extended consolidation will depend on how price reacts around current support over coming sessions.

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